Delta Air Lines probes Pakistani American couple’s profiling avers

CINCINNATI: Delta Air Lines officials said they are investigating an Ohio Muslim couple’s claim that they were removed from a return flight from Europe after an airline employee singled them out because of their appearance.

“The company will issue a full refund of the couple’s airfare for the July 26 flight from Paris to Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport,” a statement from Delta said.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations Cincinnati chapter alleged on Thursday that Delta removed the Muslim couple from the flight because an airline employee was not comfortable having them on the plane.

Faisal and Nazia Ali are US citizens originally from Pakistan and were returning home after visiting London and Paris to celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary.

What actually happened as per the couple?

Faisal Ali and Nazia Ali accused Delta Air Lines of Islamophobia for throwing them off a flight because airline employee felt “uncomfortable” in their presence

The couple said they were waiting for 45 minutes on a Delta Air Lines flight in Paris to fly back to Cincinnati, Ohio when the airline employee asked them to exit the aircraft.

“We asked if we should get our stuff and he said, ‘Yes, take all of your stuff as you won’t be on that flight’,” Ms Ali told The Independent. “That was really alarming.”

A French police officer was waiting outside the gate, who after interrogating them regarding their stay in Paris cleared them.

The Delta employee then revealed that the pilot had decided to ask them to leave as a crew member had reportedly seen Mr Ali hide his phone as they walked by and that Mr Ali had been sweating and saying “Allah”.

Mr Ali said he had been texting his mother to tell her they had safely boarded the plane as she would be picking them up from Cincinnati airport.

The couple was interrogated again by a US customs agent at the airport the next day. When Mr Ali asked what had gone wrong, the agent said: “You have done nothing wrong, unfortunately, this is the way the world is right now. It is Delta’s word against yours.”